Coin detector mechanism for vending machines



Jan. 13, 1942. A. E. GEBERT ETAL COIN DETECTOR MECHANISM FOR VENDING MACHINES Filed March 50, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet l Jan. 13, 1942. A. E. GEB'ERT ETA].

COIN DETECTOR MECHANISM FQR VENDING MACHINES Filed March 50, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan 13, 1942. A. E. GEB El' l' ETAL 2,269,752

COIN DETECTOR MECHANiSM FOR VENDING MACHINES Filed March 50, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Jan. 13, 1942 COIN DETECTOR MECHANISM FOR VENDING MACHINES Albert E Gebert, Wilmette, and Floyd C. Black, Chicago, 111., assignors to Advance Machine 00., Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application March 30, 1940, Serial No. 326,936

9 Claims.

This invention relates to that type of vending machines in which the articles to be vended are held in a container from which they are dispensed by means of an ejector, the latter being con trolled in its operation through the medium of coin or check control mechanism.

The operation of the check control mechanism is itself controlled partially by the presence or absence of the articles in the container, and partially by the characteristics of the coin or token which is inserted into th mechanism.

It is one of the objects of the present invention to provide means for accomplishing these results and to also provide improved mechanism for locking the ejecting mechanism against operation when the article container is empty or when an improper coin or token is deposited into the mechanism when there are articles in the container.

A still further object is to provide releasing means for the locking mechanism when a proper coin or token is deposited, but which releasing means is itself rendered inactive until a proper coin or token is deposited.

To the attainment of these ends and the accomplishment of other new and useful objects as will appear, the invention consists in the features of novelty in substantially the construction, combination and arrangement of the several parts hereinafter more fully described and claimed and shown in the accompanying drawings illustrating this invention and in which- Figure 1 is a detail perspective view, partly broken away and with parts omitted, taken from the rear of a .mechanism constructed in accordance with the principles of this invention.

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the assembled mechanism and with parts omitted.

Figur 4 is a detail sectional view taken on line 44 Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a detail sectional view taken on line 5-5 Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a detail sectional View taken on line 6-6 Figure 1.

Figure 7 is a detail sectional view similar to Figure 5, with parts omitted, and showing others of the parts in different positions from the positions shown in Figure 5.

Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 6 showing the parts in a different position. Referring more particularly to the drawings,the numeral [0 designates an ejector for ejecting the articles from a container, not shown, and this ejector is reciprocably mounted upon a support I l and is adapted to be moved backwardly and forwardly in any suitable manner preferably by means of arms l2 having bifurcated extremities [3 that engage over pins M on the ejector. These arms are pivotally supported as at l5 and carry projections I6 which are engaged by a cam I1 that in turn may be rotated by means of an operating handle I8 when a proper coin is deposited in a coin receiving slot I9, in a manner to be set forth.

When the cam I! is rotated and as the cam surface is in engagement with the projection [6, it will be manifest that a reciprocatory movement will be imparted to the ejector.

Connected to the operating handle I 8 is a shaft 20 that is rotatably mounted in a support 22 and the shaft 20 is connected with the cam ll, so that upon operation of the handle l8 when a proper coin is deposited into the mechanism the cam I! will be rotated and the ejector ID will be reciprocated.

All of the above referred to mechanism, however, is of a well known construction but is described herein'for the purpose of providing a complete description of the operation of the mechanism.

Secured to the shaft 20 to rotate therewith is a drum 23 and anchored by one end, as at 24, to the drum is a spring 25 the other end of which spring is anchored, as at 26, to a fixed support and tends normally to return the shaft 20 to its normal position. When, however, under proper conditions the shaft 20 is rotated, the drum 23 will also be rotated and this will create a stress or tension in the spring 25, the spring winding around the drum 23 so that when the handle I8 is released the stress created in the spring 25 will return the parts back to normal position.

Carried by the shaft 20 is a disc 21 which is provided with peripheral teeth 28 disposed between cutaway or recessed portions 29-30 in the periphery of the disc. (Io-operating with these teeth is a spring controlled pawl 3|. This pawl co-operates with the teeth 28 to insure that the shaft 20 and the disc 21 will be moved in one direction for a predetermined distance before it can return, the pawl entering the respective recesses 29--30 to permit it to be reversed so as to permit of the reverse operation or movement of the disc, as well known in this art.

- Carried by the disc 2'! is a stop 32 which cooperates with a stop 33 the latter being mounted upon a fixed support, so as to limit the rotation of the disc 2! in one direction.

Carried also by the disc 21 is a dog 34 which is pivotally mounted at one end, as at 35, and carried by the dog is a laterally projecting pin 36 that extends through an opening 31 in the disc 21 to project to the other side thereof. A spring 38 which is fixed at one end, contacts the pin 36 and causes the dog 34 to normally move about its pivot to cause a portion of the extremity 39 of the dog to project beyond the periphery of the disc 21 and into a position, where, when the disc 21 is rotated in one direction the extremity 39 of the dog will contact an abutment 40 mounted upon a fixed support and thereby lock the disc 21 against rotation in that direction. The movement of the dog 34 about its pivot 35 under the stress of the spring 38 may be limited by the pin 36 contacting the wall of the opening 31 in the disc 21.

A member 4| (see particularly Figure 5) is pivotally mounted intermediate its ends in bearings 42 and one end 43 of this member extends downwardly and is shaped to provide an offset portion 44, the extremity 45 of which portion is adapted to be positioned below the coin chute or runway 46 so that a coin 41 when dropped into the chute will engage and rest upon the deflected extremity 45, as shown more clearly in Figure 6.

The offset portion 44 is adapted to enter an opening 48 in the wall of the chute or runway to engage the coin 47 when the latter rests upon the end 45, so as to prevent the member 4| from swinging in one direction. The other end 49 of the member 4| is shaped to form a cam surface 56 and a spring 5| encompasses the member 4| between the bearings 42 and tends normally to rock the member 4| in a direction to raise the cam surface 50 so that it will contact the pin 36 on the dog 34, a stop 52 being provided to limit the movement of the member 4| and cam 50 under the stress of the spring 5|.

In operation and when there is no coin in the coin chute 46 to rest upon the extremity 45 of the portion 43 of the member 4|, the parts will assume the position shown in Figure 8 and the dog 34 will be in the position shown in Figures 4 and 5, with the result that should it be attempted to turn the disc 21 by the operating handle l8, the extremity 39 of the dog 34 will strike the abutment 40 and the disc 21 would be held against rotation.

During this movement of the disc the pin or projection 36 on the dog 34 resting upon the cam portion 50 of the member 4| will, if the disc 21 is moved slightly, depress the cam portion 50 to rock the member 4| and move the member 43 with the portions 44-45 into the position shown in Figure 8 and the dog 34v will then remain in a position to lock the disc 21 against rotation.

When a coin is'deposited in the chute 46 so that it will assume the position shown in Figure 6, that is, with the coin resting upon the extremity 45 and the portion 44 abutting the side of the coin 41, the cam 5|] will be held against being depressed or in a fixed position with the result that should the disc 21 then be turned,

the cam portion 50 being held stationary or fixed, the pin 36 will ride over the cam 50 with the result that the dog 34 will be moved about its pivot 35 against the stress of the spring 38, thereby causing the extremity 39 of the dog 34 to be raised or moved into a position that when the disc 21 is rotated the extremity 39 of the dog 34 will not engage the abutment 40 but will pass thereover, thereby permitting the disc 21 to be fully rotated in one direction.

As soon as the pin 36 passes off of the cam portion 50 the spring 5| will move the member 4| in a direction to withdraw the extremity 45 of the member 4| from beneath the coin 41, thereby allowing the coin to drop into the machine.

The end 53 of the member 4| beyond the cam 56 is preferably inclined so as not to interfere with the movement of the member 4| under the influence of the spring 5| and also to assist in guiding the pin 36 on the retrograde movement of the disc 21.

In order to prevent the insertion of a coin into the machine to operate the same, when the container for the articles (not shown) is empty, there may be provided a stop 54 (see particularly Figures 1 and 3) that is adapted to be positioned in the path of travel of the coin in the chute to guide the coin in another direction and prevent it from assuming the position shown in Figure 6. This stop 54 is preferably provided at the end of an arm 55 which is pivotally mounted, as at 56, preferably upon the support The arm is provided with an extension 51 which extends rearwardly and passes through a slot or opening 58 in the support H and also through a slot or opening 59 in the ejector H], the extremity 60 of the extension 51 being shaped to form a surface of substantial area to be contacted by the articles in the container. The slot 59 is open at one end so as not to interfere with the sliding movement of the ejector.

A spring 6| of any suitable construction may be provided which tends normally to raise the extremity 60 of the extension 5'! of the arm 55 above the top of the ejector l0 and to project the end or stop 54 of the arm 55 forwardly into the coin chute and into the path of movement of the coin.

The operation of this portion of the mechanism is that when the container is empty the spring 6| will hold the extension 60 elevated above the top of the ejector l0 and the stop or extremity 54 of the arm 55 projected forwardly into the coin chute to arrest the movement of the coin in the chute. When, however, the container holds articles to be vended, the extremity 60 will be depressed below the top of the ejector Ill and the stop or extremity 54 will be retracted so as not to interfere with the travel of the coin in the coin chute.

The speed of travel of the coin in the coin chute can be controlled by a magnetic field through which the coin rolls on its edge and this magnetic field may be produced by means of suitable magnets 62 arranged along the line of travel of the coin in the chute.

While the preferred form of the invention has been herein shown and described, it is to be understood that various changes may be made in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, within the scope of the claims, without departing from the spirit of this invention.

What is claimed as'new is:

1. Mechanism of the character described embodying a driven element, actuating means therefor, a coin chute, means operating to lock the said actuating means against operation with respect to the driven element, releasing means for said locking means, and means tending normally to position the said releasing means, so that it will render said locking means ineffective, a portion of the said releasing means projecting into the path of travel of the coin to arrest such travel, another portion of said releasing means adapted, when a coin is thus arrested, to engage a face of said coin to maintain the said releasing means in a position to render said locking means ineifective upon rotation of said actuating means, the said releasing means in the absence of said coin being automatically moved upon rotation of said actuating means, into position that it :will not render the said locking means ineifectiva;

2. Mechanism of the character described embodying a driven element, an actuator therefor, said actuator'embodying a shiftable element movable therewith and with respect thereto, an abutment with which said shiftable element co-operates to arrest the movement of the actuator, means tending normally to maintain said shiftable element in a position to engage said abutment, a coin chute and a shiftable releasing element a portion of which latter is adapted to engage a coin in the chute, another portion of said releasing element adapted tobe positioned to shift the first said shiftable element to position the latter that it will not engage said abutment, said actuator then being operable to move said driven element, the first said portion of said releasing element cooperating with a proper coin in the chute to maintain the releasing element in a position to shift said shiftable element upon rotation of said actuator, said releasing element being shiftable to an inoperative position in the absence of such coin.

3. Mechanism of the character described embodying a driven element, an actuator therefor, said actuator embodying an oscillatable member, a coin chute, a shiftable element mounted upon said oscillatable member for movement therewith and with respect thereto, an abutment with which said element co-operates to arrest the movement of said oscillatable member, means tending normally to maintain said shiftable element in a position to engage said abutment, a releasing element positioned to engage and shift said shiftable element with respect to the said oscillatable member upon operation of the actuator and into a position that said element will not engage said abutment, a portion of the said releasing element cooperating with a proper coin in the chute to maintain said releasing element in a position to render said shiftable element inactive with respect to said abutment.

4. Mechanism of the character described embodying a driven element, an actuator therefor, a coin chute, said actuator embodying an oscillatable member, an element carried by said member for movement therewith and for pivotal movement with respect thereto, an abutment, means tending normally to move said element with respect to said oscillatable member that it will engage said abutment to arrest movement of said actuator, a shiftable releasing element, a portion of said releasing element being shaped to form a surface over which a projection on the first said element is adapted to move and to be shifted thereby when said surface is so positioned, another portion of said releasing element adapted to be contacted by a coin in the said chute, Whereby the positioning of said surface will be controlled.

5. Mechanism of the character described embodying a driven member, an actuator therefor and embodying an oscillatable member, a shiftiable element carried by said oscillatable member for movement therewith and with respect thereto, an abutment, means tending normally to move said element with respect to said oscillatable member that the said element will engage said abutment, and a releasing element a portion of which'is disposed adjacent the side and within the path of movement of the coin in the chute, another portion of the releasing element being shaped to form a surface to be contacted by a formation on said shiftable element to position the latter that it will not engage said abutment, the engagement of said releasing element with a coin .in said chute operating to control the positioning of said surface. A .6.- Mechanism of the character described embodying a driven member, an oscillatable actuator therefor, a coin chute, an element mounted upon said actuator for bodily movement therewith and pivotal movement with respect thereto, an abutment, means tending normally to maintain said element in a position with respect to the actuator that it will engage said abutment to arrest movement of the actuator, and a releasing member mounted for shifting movement, a portion of said releasing member being shaped to form a cam adapted to be positioned to be engaged by a formation on the first said element to move the element to a position that the element will not engage said abutment, another portion of said releasing element projecting into said chute to be engaged by a coin, whereby the positioning of said cam will be controlled by the coin, only a predetermined coin operating to properly position said cam to cause the first said element to pass the said abutment.

7. Mechanism of the character described embodying a driven member, an oscillatable actuator therefor, a coin chute, an element mounted upon said actuator for bodily movement therewith and pivotal movement with respect thereto, an abutment, means tending normally to maintain said element in a position with respect to the actuator that it will engage said abutment to arrest movementof the actuator, and a releasing member mounted for shifting movement, a portion of said releasing member being shaped to form a cam adapted to be positioned to be engaged by a formation on the first said element to move the element to a position that the element will not engage said abutment, another portion of said releasing element projecting into said chute to be engaged by a coin, whereby the positioning of said cam will be controlled by the coin, only a predetermined coin operating to properly position said cam to cause the first said element to pass the said abutment, another portion of said releasing element projecting across said chute and forming a rest for the coin.

8. Mechanism of the character described em-. bodying a coin chute, a driven member, an actuator therefor and embodying an oscillatable disc, a stop element mounted upon the disc for movement therewith and for pivotal movement with respect thereto, an abutment, means tending normally to position said stop element With respect to said disc that upon movement of the disc in one direction said stop element will contact said abutment, a pivotally mounted releasing element a portion of which is shaped to form a surface to be engaged when properly placed, by a formation on said stop element to shift the latter adapting it to pass said abutment, another portion of said releasing element being shaped to be engaged by a coin in the chute whereby to maintain the said surface in a position in which it will shift said stop element, said releasing element in the absence of a proper coin in the chute operating to position said surface where it will not shift said stop element.

9. Mechanism of the character described embodying a coin chute, a driven member, an actuator therefor and embodying an oscillatable disc, 9. stop element mounted upon the disc for movement therewith and for pivotal movement with respect thereto, an abutment, means tending normally to position said stop element with respect to said disc that upon movement of the disc in one direction said stop element will contact said abutment, a pivotally mounted releasing element a portion of which is shaped to form a surface to be engaged when properly placed, by a formation on said stop element to shift the latter adapting it to pass said abutment, another portion of said releasing element being shaped to be engaged by a coin in the chute whereby to maintain the said surface in a position in which it will shift said stop element, said releasing element in the absence of a proper coin in the chute operating to position said surface where it will not shift said stop element, another portion of said releasing element operating to temporarily maintain the coin against passing out of engagement with the last said portion of said releasing element.

ALBERT E. GEBERT.

FLOYD 0. BLACK. 

